Veggie Grill

In January 2012, Veggie Grill flew a small group of vegan Portland-area bloggers down to LA to show us the inner-working of the vegan fast-casual chain, planning on an upcoming expansion to Portland.

Jess, Michele and I spent the whirlwind weekend getting to know the founders and owners of Veggie Grill, eating double our weight in Veggie Grill food, and learning about the ethos and ingredients that make Veggie Grill so successful. It’s no secret that the people we met, and the food we tried, led us all into a Veggie Grill love affair. Veggie Grill paid for the trip expenses, but the transparency and genuineness of our interaction with everyone involved is what really impressed us.

Veggie Grill founders and a group of Portland bloggers

Well, that, and the fact that Daryl Hannah was apparently sitting right behind us in the Santa Monica Veggie Grill, and we only realized once Jess got home and looked at her photos.

Gosh, we sure do love us some Veggie Grill at Vida Vegan Headquarters, and often have our meetings over Peach Iced Teas, Bayou Chickin’ sandwiches, Sweetheart fries and giant B Wing salads. And really, between the three of us, and all the Veggie Grill locations we’ve visited on the West Coast, we’ve easily tried every single menu item to date! Or we will—take our word on that.

(Not So) Spoiler Alert!As always, we wanted to do something different for our Opening Night Reception this year, and being überhostesses, we wanted to feed people, so we knew just who to invite. It was obvious.

Veggie Grill, which just happens to be one of the closest nearby vegan hot spots from the Museum with its recent downtown Portland location, is offering some very special small bites and refreshments to welcome you to the first of three days of conference-going.

As the motto goes, “Taste and Believe,” folks.

VG Feastin’

Here’s what’s in store for the Very Veggie Grill Reception:

All Hail Kale Salad (gluten-free)

VG Rollers—think mini blackened chickin’ flautas

Chill Out wings with Buffalo, Chipotle Ranch & BBQ sauces

Strawberry Lemonade

Who are they?Veggie Grill is a growing fast-casual, 100% vegan chain, and we’re stoked to have them involved and sharing their food on Friday night. We love them, and they love bloggers—so it’s a perfect fit! You can check out their current restaurant menus right here.

Details: The Very Veggie Grill Reception immediately follows our opening talk by Nicole J. Georges at 5:00pm on Friday in the Kridel Ballroom. See you all there!

All you cats ‘n’ kittens out there who are deprived of Veggie Grill, we have one question for you: Have you registered for the Tech Seminar yet? Because if you did, you’re gonna be noshin’ on kale salad, gut-filling sandwiches, and some of the best dern carrot cake this side of the Mississip’. (Disclaimer: It could be walnut & chocolate chip cookies and/or pudding parfait instead of the carrot cake.)

That’s right, Veggie Grill has just signed on to sponsor lunch for this November’s Tech Seminar in Seattle! We couldn’t be more excited to share this with you. If you’ve never eaten there before, picture all your fast-food guilty pleasures from your pregan days…well, let’s just show you!

And here’s Janessa and Michele doing what they do best—deciding what to eat!